McVeigh to play 200th game
By James Matthey
Jarrad McVeigh has credited a reality check at the end of the 2005 season as the catalyst for putting him on track towards AFL stardom.
Raised on NSW’s central coast and playing his junior football for Pennant Hills, the same club that has produced Kieren Jack and Lenny Hayes, the Bloods’ stalwart is preparing to play his 200th game in a red-and-white guernsey this weekend.
Speaking at the SCG ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Lions, McVeigh revealed that his career would have stalled if not for facing some harsh truths about his early performances.
“I sat down after ‘05 and the coaches were really disappointed in me and that really drove me to want to get better,” said McVeigh.
“I didn’t want to be a mediocre player and play reserves, I wanted to be a really good player and play senior footy and win grand finals, that’s what we’re here for.
“I was a high draft pick and probably wasn’t living up to their expectations and my own, I knew I wasn’t a consistent AFL player…and I went away and had a look in the mirror at myself, and as I said, I didn’t want to be just a mediocre player, I wanted to be a really good player.
“I’ve always trained hard and applied myself, it just wasn’t flowing into games and I really had to take a look at my game, I had to change a lot coming to the Swans.”
Selected at pick five in the 2002 draft, McVeigh didn’t debut until 2004, but struggled to make an impact and missed out on playing a part in the Swans’ 2005 premiership triumph.
Former Swans teammate, Tadhg Kennelly, said McVeigh was a dedicated professional whose early frustration at being unable to crack a regular starting berth inspired him to lift his game.
“I remember when Macca first came to the club he had a big reputation and he didn’t play for his first couple of years, and got very frustrated with it when he didn’t play, but he was a really determined kid, very professional, he used to train the house down,” said Kennelly.
“You could see from early on he just had a real desire to be an AFL footballer.
“His game really elevated in ’06 and ‘07…he really stepped up his professionalism more than anything else and I think he just got on with it.”
Kennelly also said McVeigh was a great example for younger players to follow, and the Swans’ 2012 Grand Final glory was a fitting reward for someone who exemplifies the famous Bloods’ culture.
“It’s a good lesson for a lot of younger players going to a football club in how to make the step up, I think he fell into this trap himself in that once he got to the club initially he thought that he’d probably made it, and probably believed a lot of the hype around himself.
“He’s obviously had a lot of tough times in the last couple of years but to see him win the Grand Final, to lift the cup last September was quite emotional for everyone involved in the club, but especially for himself and his family.
“It was a just reward, he’s the ultimate professional and a very honest bloke.
“He’s a great captain of the club, and will be for the next few years.”
On Sunday, McVeigh will become the second member of his family to break the 200-game barrier, following in the footsteps of older brother Mark, who notched up 232 games for Essendon.
McVeigh said his brother’s success drove him to pursue his AFL ambition, and was a role model for him as he moved along his footballing journey.
“A dream of both of ours was to play AFL…and I’m sure it will be a special moment for my parents and my family, to have two boys play over 200 games is a really good effort,” said McVeigh.
“I learnt a lot from him and went to Essendon when I was younger and went to his training sessions and followed his career really closely, I learnt a lot from the way he went about it and he’s taught me a lot over my career.
“I followed him closely and you always want to play with your brother…but to stay home and be in Sydney, the way things have panned out, I’m very thankful that I didn’t go to Melbourne or anywhere else and I got to come to the Swans.
“I guess to play 200 games at the one club and a club I’ve grown up with is a really special thing for me and I’ll probably look back on it at the end of my career as a great moment.”
The Swans will do battle with the Brisbane Lions at 1:10pm on Sunday May 5 at the SCG.
Click here for information on how to purchase tickets for the match.
